Motorcycle with obstacle sensor

Abstract

A motorcycle including a motorcycle body having a front part, a tail part and a central part between the front part and the tail part front and rear wheels constrained to the motorcycle body ( 2,3,4 ), a traction engine constrained to the motorcycle body ( 2,3,4 ) and operatively connected to at least one of the wheels, at least one optical signalling device fixed to the motorcycle body arranged and oriented so as to be visible by a vehicle that is following the motorcycle, an electronic control unit of the optical signalling device operatively connected to the optical signalling device, an obstacle sensor fixed to the motorcycle body ( 2,3,4 ) and operatively connected to the electronic control unit, where the electronic control unit is adapted and configured to receive at least one output signal supplied by the obstacle sensor, verifying whether said output signal meets at least one logical activation condition and, in such case, turning on the optical signalling device to signal a risk of collision with the motorcycle to the vehicle which follows the motorcycle, and where the obstacle sensor is arranged and oriented so that the output signal supplied to the electronic control unit carries information correlated to the presence of obstacles placed in front of the motor cycle.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A motorcycle, comprising:
 a motorcycle body having a front part, a tail part and a central part comprised between the front part and the tail part; 
 at least two wheels, constrained to the motorcycle body, comprising a front wheel and a rear wheel; 
 a traction engine, constrained to the motorcycle body and operatively connected to at least one of the wheels; 
 at least one optical signalling device fixed to the motorcycle body, arranged and oriented so as to be visible by a vehicle that is following the motorcycle; wherein the at least one optical signalling device is a brake light and/or two rear direction indicators; 
 additional signalling devices other than brake light and/or two rear direction indicators; 
 an electronic control unit operatively connected to the optical signalling device and to the additional signalling devices; 
 an obstacle sensor fixed to the motorcycle body and operatively connected to the electronic control unit; 
 wherein the electronic control unit is adapted and configured to receive at least one output signal supplied by the obstacle sensor, verifying whether said output signal meets at least one logical activation condition and, in such case, turning on the additional signalling devices to inform the driver of the motorcycle of the presence of a frontal obstacle; and 
 wherein the obstacle sensor is arranged on a steering handlebar or on a front shield or fairing of the motorcycle and is oriented so that the output signal supplied to the electronic control unit carries information correlated to the presence of obstacles placed in front of the motor cycle; 
 further comprising a collision risk sensor arranged and oriented so that an output signal carries information related to the collision risk with vehicle/s following the motorcycle, and the electronic control unit is adapted and configured to turn on the at least one optical signalling devices to inform the driver of the motorcycle of the presence of a risk of collision with a vehicle behind; 
 wherein the collision risk sensor is fixed to a rear mudguard, or to a license plate holder, or integrated in a rear light cluster; 
 wherein the additional signalling devices is of an acoustic, optical or tactile type; 
 wherein the obstacle sensor includes a radar; 
 wherein, after turning on the signalling devices, the electronic control unit is adapted and configured to automatically turn off the signalling devices if it detects that at least one logical deactivation condition is met; 
 wherein said logical deactivation condition is met if:
 a time interval has elapsed; wherein said time interval is a time interval counted starting from when the electronic control unit detects that said logical activation condition is no longer met; or a positive speed difference of the motorcycle exceeding a threshold difference, calculated with respect to the speed of the motorcycle when the logical activation condition occurred. 
 
 
     
     
       2. A motorcycle according to  claim 1 , comprising a horn and wherein the electronic control unit is configured to activate said horn in addition to turning the at least one optical signalling device if it detectsthat the speed of the motorcycle is either lower than or equal to a second threshold speed. 
     
     
       3. A motorcycle according to  claim 2 , wherein the second threshold speed is either lower than or equal to 3 km/h. 
     
     
       4. A motorcycle according to  claim 1 , wherein the electronic control unit configured to intermittently turn on th signalling devices. 
     
     
       5. A motorcycle according to  claim 4 , wherein said intermittent lighting of the signalling devices has a duty cycle with a light-on time different from the light-off time. 
     
     
       6. A motorcycle according to  claim 5 , wherein the light-on time is either double or half of the light-off time. 
     
     
       7. A motorcycle according to  claim 1 , wherein the obstacle sensor comprises a camera ora CCD. 
     
     
       8. A motorcycle according to  claim 2 , wherein the electronic control unit is adapted and configured to compare the speed of the motorcycle with a first threshold speed and activate the optical signalling device only if the speed of the motorcycle is greater than the first threshold speed. 
     
     
       9. A motorcycle according to  claim 8 , wherein the first threshold speed is either greater than or equal to 5 km/h. 
     
     
       10. A motorcycle according to  claim 1 , wherein the obstacle sensor and the electronic control unit are adapted and configured to detect and recognise an optical signalling emitted frontally with respect to the motorcycle. 
     
     
       11. A motorcycle according to  claim 10 , wherein said optical light signalling is due to the lighting of a brake light of a vehicle which precedes the motorcycle and/or due to the lighting of one or more hazard lights emitted by a vehicle which precedes the motorcycle and/or the lighting of a stop light or caution light emitted by a traffic light placed frontally with respect to the motorcycle.